Illinois Tollway to spend $1.4B to improve roads

Friday

Mar 21, 2014 at 1:58 PMMar 21, 2014 at 1:58 PM

The Associated Press

CHICAGO — The Illinois Tollway will spend a record $1.4 billion to improve roads, bridges and interchanges this year.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced the spending Friday. It will fund improvements to the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway along Interstate 90, construction of a western access to the Elgin O’Hare Expressway and a new interchange at Interstates 294 and 57.

The money comes from a 15-year, $12 billion capital program. Bonds for the program are repaid through toll increases that took effect in 2012.

In a statement, Quinn says the $1.4 billion is the largest one-year infrastructure investment in agency history.

He says it will rebuild 160 lane miles of roads and repair 70 bridges.

Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur is asking drivers for their patience as they encounter more construction zones.